Portable printer and sheet feeder

ABSTRACT

A portable ink-jet printer and sheet feeder which can be battery powered. The printer may be manually fed paper for operation independent of the sheet feeder. The printer and sheet feeder are mounted on a base and locked at 90 degrees to one another. They may then be rotated into two operating modes in which automatic sheet feeding occurs, one of which provides a straight paper feed path for relatively stiff print media and/or printing relatively dense graphics. A paper output system includes a pair of wings and a deflector which place various arches in the paper as it emerges from the printer to maintain it over the previously printed sheet to permit it to dry. The printer may be configured by driving a print carriage having an arrow thereon to different positions adjacent a menu. When the arrow is opposite a desired configuration option, the option is selected by pressing a button.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 07/887,517filed on May 19, 1992, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to portable printers and sheet feeders andmore particularly to such printers and feeders which are relativelysmall, light weight and which may be battery powered.

2. Description of the Related Art

A typical printer receives data from a computer for printing text and/orgraphic images on print media such as paper. Often, printers haveautomatic sheet-feeding capability. A stack of paper is inserted into atray in the printer which thereafter moves the paper, one sheet at atime, past a printing device, such as an ink-jet print cartridge.Generally the printer and paper feeder are integrally formed and havepower requirements which make battery power impractical. Printers whichare driven by desk-top computers and the like typically must beconfigured into different operating modes. To do so, information must beprovided to the printer concerning different aspects of the printing.For example, there are commonly printer settings for paper size,high-quality versus high-speed (draft) printing, text size, characterset selection and other variables which affect the manner in which adocument is printed.

Prior art printers utilize DIP switches, keys and/or light emittingdiodes to select various configuration options. Such prior art printersare somewhat cryptic in that the user typically needs a manual tointerpret the meaning of a particular switch position.

It would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for configuringa printer which is simple, easy to operate and intuitive. It would alsobe desirable to provide such a method and apparatus which is relativelyinexpensive to implement in a printer design.

In liquid ink printing systems, such as ink jet printers, the ink orother liquid printing solution is wet immediately after the ink isapplied to the paper (or other media such as an overhead transparency).The ink must dry before a subsequently printed sheet contacts theprinted paper surface in order to avoid smudging the previously appliedink. Known methods of drying the ink include a heated platen. In thatarrangement, a flat surface over which the paper glides after it hasbeen printed on is heated. By heat conduction through the paper itself,drying of the ink is hastened so that the ink is sufficiently dried toprevent smudging when a newly printed page comes into contact with it.

Another known method of addressing the wet paper problem is by means ofa pair of active wings, as is employed for example in theHewlett-Packard DESK JET printers. The wings are called "active" becausethey are moveable, driven by an electro-mechanical assembly. The wingsinitially hold a newly printed page spaced apart from a previous printedsheet. After printing is complete, the wings move to a second positionto allow the printed page to drop onto the previously printed sheet.Therefore, there is a delay equivalent to the time of printing an entirepage before the printed page comes into contact with a previouslyprinted page. In general, the object is to provide an adequate delaytime before a newly printed page comes into contact with the lastpreviously printed page so that the ink is sufficiently dry.

Known methods of addressing the wet paper path problem are inadequate,especially in the context of a portable ink jet printing system. In aportable ink jet printing system, size, weight and power requirementsare critical. Size and weight considerations obviously are important toproviding portability. Power requirements must be minimized to allowoperation of the printing system using battery power. The heated platenmethod, in addition to requiring multiple components, draws substantialpower from the power source in order to heat the platen. The "activewings," approach also is undesirable because of its complexity and powerconsumption for powering the electro-mechanical assemblies necessary foractuating the active wings. What is needed is a way to dry ink in amanner that minimizes size, weight and power requirements for use in aportable liquid ink printing system.

It would be desirable to provide a printer which delays depositing aprinted sheet on top of a previously printed sheet until after a timeelapses sufficient to allow the ink to dry on the previously printedsheet. It would also be desirable to provide such a printer which doesnot use excessive power and which neatly stacks printed pages as theyexit the printer without smudging the newly printed ink.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a printer and automatic sheet feederwhich may be battery powered. The printer is usable independently of thesheet feeder in which case sheets are manually fed to the printer. Whenused together, the printer and sheet feeder are rotatable about a commonaxis into various operating modes, including one in which manual sheetfeeding may be accomplished with the sheet feeder attached.

The sheet feeder includes a door having a pair of paper support armswhich unfold therefrom for supporting paper in the feeder. The printerand sheet feeder of the invention further includes a cable managementand restraint system for maintaining cables in an organized manner toprevent interference with operation of the printer and sheet feeder andto provide cable strain relief.

The feeder and printer may be locked at a preselected angle relative toone another to insure proper positioning in the operational mode. Whenthe same are unlocked each may be rotated downwardly to a base andlocked thereto for transporting or storing the printer and sheet feeder.

The printer and sheet feeder include means located adjacent the printeroutput for handling newly printed sheets in a manner which prevents inksmudging and which stacks printed sheets. The foregoing is accomplishedin the context of a portable printer and does not require additionalpower requirements.

In a configuration mode, a pointer is mounted on the print cartridgecarriage for pointing at a menu on the printer case for displaying andselecting different printer configuration options and for displaying anindication of remaining battery charge.

The printer may be used to print in one mode in which there is astraight paper feed path for printing particularly dense graphics orwhen the print media is relatively thick and/or stiff.

It would be desirable to provide a printer having the foregoingfeatures.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention willbecome more readily apparent from the following detailed description ofa preferred embodiment which proceeds with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer constructed in accordance withthe present invention and showing a front panel and a manual paper feedaccess hatch.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer of FIG. 1 inverted andshowing a pen access hatch.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer of FIGS. 1 and 2 mounted ona base with an automatic sheet feeder constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the printer and sheet feeder ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the base, printer and sheetfeeder.

FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the base, printer and sheetfeeder.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the base, printer and sheetfeeder.

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the base, printer and sheet feeder.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a rotatable housing which facilitatesmounting the printer on the base.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the base illustrating further a cablemanagement system.

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the underside of the base.

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of the top of the base.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the rear of the rotatable housing.

FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view of the interior of the rotatablehousing.

FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view showing the rotatable housingmounted on the base.

FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view of an interior portion of thesheet feeder.

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing the rotatable housing in adifferent position.

FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of the automatic sheet feeder.

FIG. 18A is an exploded view of the printer, sheet feeder and base.

FIG. 19A is a partial perspective view of a portion of the printer andthe base illustrating a spherical lock for locking the printer againstlateral movement on the base.

FIG. 19B is a view similar to FIG. 19A with the printer case on thebase.

FIG. 19C is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 19B illustrating thespherical lock.

FIG. 20 is a front perspective view illustrating the printer and sheetfeeder in an operational mode in which the paper access hatch is openand the paper support arms are in their open or operational positions.

FIG. 21 is a rear perspective view of the printer and sheet feeder ofFIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a front perspective view illustrating the printer and sheetfeeder in another operational mode.

FIG. 23 is a right side view of the printer and sheet feeder in theoperational mode of FIGS. 20 and 21.

FIG. 23A is a view similar to FIG. 23 with portions broken away toillustrate the paper feed path.

FIG. 23B is a partial view of the printer and sheet feeder of FIG. 23Awith different portions broken away to illustrate the linkage betweenthe paper feeder motor in the printer and the paper feed mechanism inthe sheet feeder.

FIG. 24 is an exploded view of the case of the printer of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the printer and sheetfeeder cable management system.

FIG. 25A is a view of the preferred embodiment of the printer and sheetfeeder cable management system.

FIG. 25B is a view taken along line 25B--25B in FIG. 25A.

FIG. 25C is a perspective view of the printer and sheet feeder showingthe clip of FIG. 25A mounted thereon.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the paper access hatch with the papersupport arms in their closed or nested positions.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the paper access hatch with the papersupport arms in their open or operational positions.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged exploded view of one of the paper support armsand paper access hatch.

FIG. 29 is a partial perspective view of the printer system viewed froman output platform (formed on the base) toward the paper exit slot.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the pen access door showing detail ofthe trap pockets.

FIGS. 30A, B, C and D are perspective views of the edge separator.

FIGS. 31A, B and C show detail of the deflector wings.

FIG. 34 is a partial perspective view of the printer of FIG. 1 with thepen access door open.

FIG. 35 is an enlarged view of the configuration menu of FIG. 34.

FIG. 36 is an enlarged view of control panel buttons mounted on theprinter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 37 is a schematic diagram of the control circuit including acomputer program constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of the printer and sheet feeder configuredfor automatic sheet feeding with a straight paper path.

FIG. 39 is a side view of the printer system showing printed pagesstacked on the output platform.

FIGS. 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 are side elevational views of the wetpaper path handling system further illustrating the progress of printedmedia from initial exit through the paper slot through stacking onto theoutput platform.

FIG. 46 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the access door trappocket region of the printing system in operation.

FIG. 47 illustrates how the straight leading edge of a printed pagecontacts the W-shaped trailing edge of a previously printed page fordriving the previously printed page onto the output platform.

FIG. 48 illustrates a trailing edge of a printed page after it clearsthe edge separator and contacts with the leading edge of a successivepage.

FIG. 49 is a side view illustrating how the leading edge of a printedpage pushes the previously printed page over the deflector wings so thatthe previously printed page falls onto a stack on the output platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings and considering FIGS. 1-4, indicatedgenerally at 10 is a portable printer constructed in accordance with thepresent invention. In the present embodiment of the invention, printer10 is an ink-jet printer although other types of printers could alsoincorporate the present invention. In FIGS. 3 and 4 printer 10 is shownengaged with a portable sheet feeder 12 also constructed in accordancewith the present invention. Printer 10 and sheet feeder 12 togethermounted on a base 15 form a combined unit indicated generally at 14. Aswill later be more fully described, printer 10 is capable of operatingin a stand-alone mode as shown in FIG. 1, and in conjunction with sheetfeeder 12 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Various operating configurationsfor unit 14 are shown and described later herein.

Printer 10 includes a removable control panel end cap 16 having a sixbutton control panel, indicated generally at 18, mounted thereon.Control panel lights, indicated generally at 20, are mounted on end cap16 above two of buttons 18. Additional detail is provided hereinafter,with reference to FIGS. 24 and 36, concerning the structure andfunctioning of panel 18 and panel lights 20.

A paper entrance slot 22 is formed on the lower edge of a feed rolleraccess door 24. Door 24 is pivotally connected to the remainder ofprinter 10 via hinges at the lower edge thereof on opposite ends of thedoor. Slot 22 is defined between the hinges.

An interface port 26 comprises a conventional socket for receiving aplug from a computer for transferring image and text data to printer 10in a known manner. A pen access door 28, also viewable in FIG. 22,includes a paper exit slot 30 formed beneath a lower edge 30 of door 28.Like door 24, door 28 is pivotally attached to the remainder of printer10 via hinges at opposing ends of slot 30. Pen access door 28 providesaccess to an ink-jet print cartridge as will be described more fully inconjunction with FIG. 34.

A printer stand 32 comprises a substantially planar element which ispivotally attached to the remainder of printer 10 for rotation about anaxis normal to stand 32. When stand 32 is pivoted 90° from the view ofFIG. 2, it comprises a base which extends on either side of the printerfor supporting it in the position illustrated in FIG. 1.

A power socket 34 is provided for connecting an AC power adaptor (notshown) to printer 10. A battery access door 36 provides access to abattery for running printer 10, with or without sheet feeder 12, onbattery power rather than via an AC power adaptor inserted in socket 34.

A card slot 38 provides access to a conventional socket (not visible)inside of printer 10 for receiving a conventional font card through slot38.

Consideration will now be given to the external structure of portablesheet feeder 12. Sheet feeder 12 includes a paper access door 40 whichopens for receiving paper to be fed by feeder 12 to printer 10 as willbe later more fully described. A manual paper feed alignment guide 42includes upright edges at either end thereof for aligning paper when thesame is manually fed into printer 10 when unit 14 is configured formanual operation as will also be later described. Sheet feeder 12includes a pair of arms 44, 46 which are integrally formed with thesheet feeder case which are circular in shape and concentric with oneanother. Each of arms 44, 46 extends laterally from opposite sides ofthe sheet feeder as shown. A rotatable housing 48 is received betweenarms 44, 46. Attention is directed to FIG. 9 for further description ofhousing 48.

Housing 48 is generally cylindrical in shape and includes a pair ofopposed circular ends 50, 52. The ends include concentric bores 54, 56each of which includes an annular lip, like lip 58, about thecircumference thereof. Housing 48 includes an interior planar printerabutment surface 60 against which the lower end of printer 10, viewablein FIG. 2, abuts when the same is slidably fitted into housing 48 as inthe views of FIGS. 3-8.

Base 15 is shown in FIG. 10 without either printer 10 or sheet feeder 12mounted thereon. The base includes a sheet feeder support surface 62 anda printer support surface 64. In the views of FIGS. 3-8, sheet feeder 12is supported on surface 62 and printer 10 is supported on surface 64.The outer cylindrical surface of housing 48 is received on acorresponding curved surface 66 in base 15. A pair of slots 68, 70formed at either end of surface 66 receive a metal support bracket 72(in FIG. 11) therethrough. Bracket 72 includes an elongate lower portion74 which extends between slot 68, 70 on the lower surface of base 15.Bracket support posts, one of which is post 76, extend upwardly fromopposite ends of portion 74 through slots 68, 70 like post 76 extendsthrough slot 70 in FIG. 11. Each post includes circular opening, likeopening 78 in post 76. Housing 48 is mounted on base 15 by inserting theannular lips, like lip 58, on either end of the housing intocorresponding openings, like opening 78 (in FIG. 11), in the supportbracket post, like post 76. Housing 48 therefore has a lower circularsurface supported on corresponding circular surface 66 on base 15 whileat the same time is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of housing 48.

Each of arms 44, 46, includes a circular opening, like opening 80 in arm44 (in FIG. 22). In the views of FIGS. 3 and 4 a locking hub 82 isinserted into opening 80 in arm 44. The locking hub includes fingers(not visible) which extend into the bores, like bore 56 (in FIG. 9), oneither end of housing 48. Arm 46 and bore 54, on the other end ofhousing 48, include a corresponding locking hub 84 (in FIG. 4) receivedtherethrough. Portable sheet feeder 12 is therefore rotatable about thecentral axis of housing 48, as is the housing itself. As will shortly beseen, in some circumstances feeder 12 and housing 48 are independentlyrotatable relative to one another, in other circumstances they may belocked in a predetermined relationship to one another and in stillanother condition they may be locked to the base as shown in FIGS. 3-8.

Turning now to FIGS. 12, 13 and 15, a plurality of indexing springs, oneof which is spring 86, are mounted on the underside of base 15 beneathsurface 66. Each of the springs extends upwardly through openings formedin surface 66 for engaging a slot 88 (in FIG. 13), formed on theunderside of housing 48. Slot 88 includes a middle portion 87 whichincludes ribs which fill the slot for a purpose to be shortly described.Preferably the springs, like spring 86 are made of steel and arereceived in slot 88 as the housing rotates the slot across the springs.When so received, the springs act as a detente which hold housing 48 ina preselected position. Housing 48 is shown in the position in which thesprings, like spring 86, are engaged in slot 88 in the views of FIGS.20-23.

In FIG. 13, slots 90, 92 are formed in housing 48 for receiving anextensible metal tongue 94 (in FIGS. 15 and 16) which extends from oneside of sheet feeder 12. In the view of FIG. 15, locking tongue 94 isnot engaged with either of the slots; however, in FIG. 17, lockingtongue 94 is shown engaged with slot 90 thereby locking housing 48relative to sheet feeder 12 as shown. When so locked, combined units canbe rotated into the configuration of FIGS. 20, 21 and 23 where thesprings, like spring 86, which extend from surface 66 engage slot 88thereby maintaining the configuration as shown.

Illustrated in FIG. 14 is a key 96 formed on housing 48 which cooperateswith corresponding structure in printer 10 to insure that printer isoriented in only one direction, i.e. that shown in all of the drawings,when it is received in housing 48. Key 96 is also viewable in FIG. 9. Anexploded view of unit 14 is illustrated in FIG. 18A.

Turning now to FIGS. 16 and 18, indicated generally at 98 in FIG. 16 isa feeder locking mechanism. Locking mechanism 98 is released by slidinga control, indicated generally at 100, in the direction of arrow A. Thatportion of control 100 interior of sheet feeder 12 is visible in FIG.16; a slidable button 102 is mounted on the exterior of feeder 12 and isvisible in FIGS. 18 and 8. The button is mounted on that portion ofcontrol 100 which extends through a slot 101 formed in the sheet feedercase. As will be hereinafter described, sliding button 102 in thedirection of the arrow unlocks feeder 12 from base 15 and also movestongue 94 in the direction indicated by arrow C in FIG. 27 therebyunlocking feeder 12 from housing 48 if it is locked thereto.

Control 100 includes a downward projecting lug 104 which extends througha slot 106 formed on the lower side of feeder 12. The lower end of lug106 terminates in a hook, as is viewable in FIG. 21, and is received ina slot 108 formed in base 15 for locking feeder 12 to the base wheneverthe feeder is in its lowermost position as viewed in FIGS. 3-8 and inFIG. 22.

Control 100 is connected to rods 110, 112 which in turn are connected toa triangular cam 114. Cam 114 moves against a contoured surface ontongue 94 thereby urging the same against housing 48, and into one ofslots 90, 92 (in FIG. 24) when the tongue is opposite thereto. A camfollower 115 is mounted on tongue 94 and is received inside cam 114.When control 100 is moved in the direction of arrow A by manipulation ofbutton 102, lug 104 moves relative to slot 108 to unlock feeder 12 frombase 15 while simultaneously withdrawing tongue 94 from housing 48thereby permitting free rotation of printer 10 and feeder 12 about theaxis of housing 48. A spring 117 normally biases tongue 94 towardhousing 48.

Turning now to FIGS. 19A, 19B and 19C printer 10 is shown with most ofthe printer broken away to expose the detail of a spherical engagementlock indicated generally at 16. Similarly, neither housing 48 nor sheetfeeder 12 is shown for the purpose of illustration. Printer 10 includesa case 118 having a depression 120 formed therein. The depressionincludes a spherical surface which abuts against a correspondingspherical surface 122 formed on base 15. An edge 124 presents a planarsurface which is substantially vertical to base surface 64 and whichabuts against a corresponding surface on case 118. It can thus be seenthat when printer 10 is pivoted downwardly from the position of FIG. 19Ato the position of FIGS. 19B and 19C, edge 124 prevents movement ofprinter 10 in the direction of arrow 126. It should be noted that whensheet feeder 12 is in its lowermost position and printer 10 in itslowermost position as illustrated in FIGS. 3-8, tongue 94 is engagedwith slot 92 thereby locking housing 48, and therefore printer 10,against rotational movement about the axis of the housing. With lug 104locking sheet feeder 12 to base 15, with spherical engagement lock 116preventing movement of printer 10, as indicated in FIG. 19B, and withtongue 94 engaged in slot 92 both the sheet feeder and printer arelocked to the base in what is referred to herein as a transport orstorage condition.

Turning now to FIG. 24 the case for printer 10 is illustrated inexploded view. Control panel 18 comprises a polymeric frame 128 havingsix tabs, like tab 130, extending therefrom. Each of the tabs has abutton as shown mounted thereon. Each button includes a downwardlyprojecting portion 132. Frame 128, tabs 130 and portions 132 areintegrally molded using a conventional process. Because the tabs, liketab 130, extend laterally from the frame, and due to the polymericmaterial from which panel 18 is molded, tabs 130 are flexible yet tendto retain the configuration shown in the drawing.

Control panel lights 20 are also molded from clear polymeric materialsuitable for transmitting light therethrough. Lights 20 rest withinframe 128 and includes downwardly extending cylindrical portions, likeportion 134, which are received through openings in selected ones of thetabs.

Panel 18 having lights 20 nested therein as described is urged againstan upper interior surface (not visible) of end cap 16 and is held inposition via downward projecting lugs (also not visible) on the lowersurface of the end cap which are received within bores (not shown)formed in frame 128. When so installed, each of cylindrical portions 134are received over a light emitting diode (LED) on a circuit board (notshown) received inside printer 10. Similarly, each of downwardprojecting cylindrical portions, like portion 132, is received over aswitch mounted on the circuit board. Each of the rounded buttons extendsthrough a circular opening, like circular opening 136 in end cap 16.Similarly, the upper end of each of cylindrical portions, likecylindrical portion 134, extends through a corresponding hole, like hole138, in the end cap. End cap 16 includes printed labeling, not shown inFIG. 24, which identifies the function and alternative functions of eachbutton as will be hereinafter later described. Such labeling is shown inEnglish in FIG. 36.

End cap 16 includes downward projecting lugs for connecting the same toportions 140, 142 of the case for printer 10. End cap 16 is advantageousin that separate end caps can be produced which identify the buttonfunctions in different languages. The same control panel 18 and lights20 can be integrated into each of the other end caps which arethereafter connected to the case. Thus, with virtually no extra expenseprinter 10 can be made with a professional finished appearance fordifferent foreign markets.

Turning now to FIG. 25, illustrated therein is base 15 and printer 10.Housing 48 and sheet feeder 12 are broken away in the view of FIG. 25for the purpose of illustrating a cable holder 144. Holder 144 is alsoviewable in FIG. 10 and includes a pair of channels 146, 148. Cableholder 144 is mounted on base 15 on one side of the base upon whichsurface 62 is formed. In the view of FIG. 25, a power cable 150, whichis plugged into power socket 34 (in FIG. 1) is received in channel 146.A computer input/output cable 152 is received in channel 148. The cablesare installed by positioning each cable over its associated channel andpressing the cable thereinto at an appropriate location along the lengthof the cable. Cable holder 144 provides strain relief as well asmaintaining the cables in an organized manner so as not to interferewith other parts of the printer or with other items located nearby.

Looking now at FIG. 25A, illustrated therein is a preferred embodimentof a cable holder constructed in accordance with the present invention.Numbers corresponding to structure identified and described above areretained in the views of FIG. 25A-C. In FIG. 25B, channel 146 includes apair of opposed hemispherical surfaces 147, 149 which face one anotherimmediately above cable 150. It can be appreciated that surface 147, 149retain a cable in the channel after it is pushed through theslightly-reduced portion of the channel formed by surfaces 147, 149.

Similar opposed hemispherical surfaces are formed in channel 148 andretain cord 152 therein. A clip 151 is formed on one side of cableholder 144 and can be used to clip the cable holder to base 15 asillustrated in FIG. 25C. Cable holder 144 has utility independently ofbeing clipped to base 15 in that it serves to keep cables 150, 152 frombecoming tangled and keeps them in a predetermined relationship to oneanother for reducing the area covered by cables 150, 152 adjacent thesheet feeder.

Turning now to FIGS. 26-28, a pair of paper support arms 154, 156 eachinclude a circular base 158, 160 which is integrally molded with arms154, 156, respectively. Bases 158, 160 are pivotally mounted forrotation about their centers on the inside of paper access door 40.Considering now FIG. 28, illustrated therein is an exploded view,including the underside of base 158, which includes a pair of downwardlyprojecting arms 162, 164. Each of anus 162, 164 includes an upwardlyprojecting lip which engages a lower surface of an annular ring 166formed on the underside of a top panel 165 of door 40. The bottomportion of door 40 is not shown in FIG. 28 to reveal annular ring 166.

Arm 154 can therefore be pivotally mounted on door 40 by inserting arms162, 164 through an o-ring 168 and thereafter through an opening (notvisible) in door 40 about which ring 166 is formed. The upwardlyprojecting edges on arm 162, 164 engage the lower surface of ring 166and thereby mount arm 154 on the door for pivotal rotation about axis170.

This structure permits easy removal and reinstallation of the arms. Inaddition, if force is inadvertently applied to one of the arms in adirection which tends to disconnect it from the door, the arm "pops" outof its connection without breaking and may thereafter be reinstalled asdescribed above.

In addition, the arms pivot into a compact storage position, illustratedin FIG. 26, which permits closing of paper access door 40 to theconfiguration illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Turning now to FIG. 34, printer 10 includes a first portion or case 172which houses the mechanical printer structure, such as the carriage andpaper-handling components as well as electronic circuits which controlthe printer. Pen access door 28 is attached to case 172 via hinges, likehinges 176, 178, and pivots downwardly and toward the viewer in FIG. 34,to reveal an interior portion, indicated generally at 180, of theprinter case.

Included in portion 180 is a conventional ink-jet cartridge 182.Cartridge 182 is mounted on a printer carriage (not visible) which isalso referred to herein as a second portion of the printer. The carriageis driven by a motor (also not visible) and moves cartridge 182generally from left to right as viewed in FIG. 1 in a known manner.Paper (not shown) exits case 172 via slot 30 (in FIG. 2) under controlof paper-handling structure not relevant to the present invention.Cartridge 182 emits ink droplets in a known manner on the paper as itpasses beneath the cartridge. Typically, the cartridge moves laterallyto print a single swath across the paper, the paper advances, anotherlateral swath is printed, and so forth until an entire printed sheetemerges from the printer. Such printing techniques and circuitry forproducing the same are known in the art.

A menu 186 comprises printed indicia formed on case 172 adjacent thetravel path of cartridge 182. A pointer or arrow 188 is formed oncartridge holder 184 and points toward the lower portion of menu 186.

For more detail concerning menu 186 attention is directed to FIG. 35.

Menu 186 includes seven groups 190-202 of printer settings. Each of thesettings is referred to herein as a configuration option. Theconfiguration options may be selected, as will be discussed hereinafter,when the printer is placed in a configuration mode, also discussedhereinafter.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the printer can be poweredby batteries. Group 190 presents configuration options of draining orcharging the batteries. These functions are selectable only if a batterypack is installed in the printer. There is also an AC power adapter (notshown). When the power adapter is installed only the charge function isselected. When the power adapter is not connected to the printer, onlythe drain function can be selected.

The printer starts the drain or charge function when the printer isswitched from the configuration mode to its normal operational mode asdiscussed hereinafter.

Carriage return group 192 permits definition of the carriage returncontrol character as between carriage return (CR) only or betweencarriage return (CR) and Line Feed (LF). Each of the configurationoptions in groups 190-202 is identified with a numeral. Configurationoptions identified with the numeral zero are the factory defaultsettings.

Character set group 194 permits selection of a default character set.The present embodiment of the invention is selectable between Katakanaand the extended graphics character sets.

Text size group 196 permits selection of character pitch between anormal character pitch (10 characters per inch) and compressed characterpitch (17 characters per inch). Text print mode group 198 includesselection between letter quality (slower speed printing) and draftquality (higher speed printing). Top margin group 200 selects a topmargin on printed documents of either 19 mm or 6.5 mm.

Paper size group 202 permits selection of paper size as indicated on thelabeling of each option in group 202.

A battery charge indicator 204 provides a scale which reflects thecondition of printer battery pack as will shortly be described.

Turning now to FIG. 36, indicated generally at 206 is a control panelwhich includes a plurality of buttons 208-218. Some of the buttons havelights, indicated by circles above the button, associated therewith. Innormal-operation mode, buttons 208-216 are operable to perform functionsassociated with the printer, e.g., button 212 switches between draft andletter quality printing. Each of buttons 208-216 assumes controlfunctions different than when the printer is in normal operational mode,i.e., prior to entering configuration mode. Prior to description of themanner in which the printer is placed into configuration mode, and theoperation of the printer in that mode, attention is directed to FIG. 37for description of additional structure.

Indicated generally at 220 is a schematic diagram of a portion ofprinter 10. Buttons 208-216 are represented by boxes bearing labelswhich correspond to the button function in configuration mode andidentified with the same numeral as the corresponding button in FIG. 35.

Buttons 208-216 provide input signals to carriage control firmware whichprovides control signals to the previously mentioned motor for drivingthe print carriage. The firmware along with circuits for determiningabsolute carriage position are referred to herein collectively as system222. For the most part system 222 comprises conventional printercarriage control circuitry some of which is implemented as a computerprogram that is permanently stored in the printer. System 222 providesan output to the carriage motor, identified schematically as motor 224,which provides the drive power for the motor. A shaft encoder 226 ismounted on the output shaft of motor 224 and provides signals to system222 that indicate the number of shaft rotations and therefore theposition of the print carriage. Such signals are processed by knowncircuitry in system 222 and are used by the carriage control firmware toaccurately move and position the print cartridge.

Also included therein is a computer program implemented in firmwareconstructed in accordance with the present invention. The program isoperable when the printer is in the configuration mode and causes theprinter to operate in the manner which is described in the descriptionof the operation of the present embodiment of the invention hereinafter.A person having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention relatesin conjunction with the description contained herein, including FIG. 37,can write computer code to cause operation of the computer as described.

FIG. 22 shows a perspective view of the output paper path apparatus. Theapparatus includes a generally planar output platform 300 formed on base15. A pair of deflector wings are coupled to the output platform 300.These include a left deflector wing 3 1 0 and a right deflector wing320. Left and right are defined in the context of facing the access door28 from the output platform. An edge separator 330 also is coupled tooutput platform 300 and positioned adjacent to the paper exit slot 30.

FIG. 29 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 22. Asappears in this figure, the deflector wings 310, 320 are spaced apartfrom each other, and each of them is inclined laterally, i.e., toward arespective outside edge of the output platform. Additionally, each ofthe deflector wings is inclined forwardly, as best seen in the sideelevation view of FIG. 23. Forward in this description is defined as thedirection of paper movement through the printer 10 during printing.

The edge separator 330 is roughly centered relative to the paper exitslot 30. It also is forwardly inclined. FIGS. 30A-D illustrate thepreferred embodiment of edge separator 330. Separator 330 includes asubstantially planar semicircular portion 331 which is mounted on ashaft 332 for pivoting action as shown by the arrow on portion 331 inFIG. 30D. A recess 332 formed in base 15 receives portion 331 when it ispivoted to its lowermost position as shown in FIG. 30A.

A flexible polymeric sheet 333 is mounted on and extends from portion331 as shown. In the lowermost position of the edge separator, sheet 333is substantially flush against base 15. A spring 334 biases portion 331into the upper position illustrated in FIGS. 30B and 30D. When theprinter and sheet feeder are secured to base 15 in the transport/storagemode as described elsewhere herein, portion 331 pivots downwardly topermit the printer to assume the configuration of FIGS. 3-8. Flexiblepolymeric sheet 333 flexes as paper is urged thereagainst when itemerges from the printer as illustrated and described herein inconnection with the operation of the present embodiment of theinvention.

Referring now to FIG. 30, the pen access door 28 includes a left trappocket 350 and right trap pocket 360 for receiving the respectivetrailing edge comers of a printed sheet after it exits the paper exitslot, as further explained below.

FIG. 31C shows detail of the deflector wings 310, 320. The deflectorwing itself is shown in side elevation in FIG. 31C. The right wing 320,for example, includes an elongate portion 312 fixed to a base portion314. The deflector wing preferably is formed of a plastic material forlightweight and economical construction. The base portion 314 includes apair of mounting pins 316 for snapin connection to correspondingmounting holes on the output platform 300 or on a slider, in the case ofthe left deflector wing, described below.

The left deflector wing is illustrated in FIGS. 31A and 31B. The leftdeflector wing further includes a slider portion 318. The slider 318 ismovably connected to a corresponding channel in the output platform 300so as to permit lateral positioning of the left deflector wing in orderto accommodate printed media of various widths. The slider 318 isconnected to the output platform by means of a suitable snap-in hook322.

As described above, the printing system may be configured into a travelmode in which the output platform 300 and the output side of the printer10 are closed into parallel proximity with each other. For that reason,the deflector wings, as well as the edge separator, are pivotallyconnected to the output platform and arranged to fold down into a travelposition, substantially flush with the output platform. For that reason,the deflector wings include torsion springs arranged to urge thedeflector wings upward toward an operational position for use, whileallowing them to pivot down into the travel position automatically. Asuitable stop is provided so that the deflector wings as well as theedge separator automatically spring upward into a predetermined positionfor use when the printer is configured in the automatic feed mode.

Consideration will now be given to the manner in which printer 10 andsheet feeder 12 operate. First, as previously mentioned, printer 10 maybe operated in a stand alone mode as depicted in FIG. 1. Printer stand32 is rotated from the view of FIG. 2 to provide a stand for maintainingthe printer in the position of FIG. 1. The printer may be run on batterypower or an AC adaptor (not shown) is inserted in socket 34. Aconventional printer cable from a commercially available computer isplugged into port 26 to provide image and text data to the printer in aknown manner.

Prior to beginning printing, the printer is configured to selectconfiguration options listed on menu 186 and described above. Accessdoor 28 is opened to reveal menu 186 and cartridge holder 184 as shownin FIG. 34. Next, the printer is placed in the configuration mode bypressing button 216 and holding the same in a depressed condition untilthe light labeled "config" begins flashing. Once the light flashes thebutton is released and the printer is in configuration mode. If theprinter is operating under battery power the carriage motor drives arrow188 to battery charge indicator 204 to indicate the level of remainingcharge in the battery. The printer includes conventional structure formeasuring battery voltage and also includes a program for counting thenumber of pages and lines printed by the printer using battery power. Asignal is developed, based on the number of pages and lines printed andthe measured battery voltage, which is proportional to the remainingcharge left in the battery. The signal is provided to system 222 whichdrives carriage motor 224 to the appropriate position opposite batterycharge indicator 204.

When in the configuration mode, clicking button 208 moves theconfiguration pointer to the current setting in the next group to theleft of the current group. Once within the group, buttons 212, 214 areused to move the pointer to the left and right, respectively, to selectdifferent options within the group. If the pointer is in the left-mostsetting, clicking button 212 moves the pointer back to the first settingin the group. Similarly, if the pointer is at the right-most settingclicking button 214 moves the pointer to the last setting in the group.Once the pointer is on the desired configuration option within a group,button 210 is clicked to select the option in which the pointer ispointing. After each group is configured as described above, button 216is clicked to exit the configuration mode and return to normaloperation.

The current configuration settings are stored in the non-volatile memoryin FIG. 37. Each time power is supplied to the printer the settings areused as the default settings. The settings in group 190 relate to thebattery. The option can be set either to "charge" or "drain." These areselectable only if a battery is installed in a printer. If an AC poweradaptor is connected to the printer as described above, only the "chargefunction" can be selected. If the power adaptor is not connected to theprinter, only the drain function can be selected which completelydischarges the battery. The printer starts the drain or charge function,whichever is selected, when configuration mode is exited as describedabove.

Once the printer is configured, manual printing is commenced. Thecomputer (not shown) to which the printer is connected via cable 152 (inFIG. 25) instructs the printer to print a job. A user then insertspaper, one sheet at a time, into slot 22 where it is grabbed by rollersin a known fashion and pulled, in a straight path, beneath ink-jetcartridge 182 as it traverses the width of the paper. The printed sheetemerges from paper exit slot 30 on the other side of the printer.Additional sheets are inserted, one at a time, via slot 22 until theprinting job is complete.

When the printer is used in conjunction with sheet feeder 12 and base15, it is stored and transported in the configuration illustrated inFIGS. 3-8. In this configuration, tongue 94 is received in slot 92(FIGS. 13 and 15) and sheet feeder 12 is locked to the base due to thehook on the lower end of 106 being engaged with slot 108 (FIG. 21).Also, spherical engagement lock 116, in FIGS. 19A-C prevents lateralmovement of the printer relative to the base. The sheet feeder, printerand base are thus locked together in a manner which prevents anyrelative movement.

Printer 10 may be configured for automatic sheet feeding in one of twomodes. To provide automatic sheet feeding for printing in a straightpaper feed path, button 102 is slid as indicated in FIG. 21 therebywithdrawing tongue 94 from groove 92. Next, printer 10 is rotated untilit is oriented at 90° relative to sheet feeder 12, as viewed in FIG. 38,the button is released and tongue 94 is received in slot 90 therebylocking the sheet feeder and printer in the configuration of FIG. 38.When so configured, a slot 228 (in FIG. 23A) in the sheet feeder isdirectly opposite slot 22 on printer 10. Both slots are concealed fromview when configured as in FIG. 38. Door 40 is opened as shown in FIGS.20 and 21 and the paper support arms are extended. Paper is then loadedinto sheet feeder 12 so that lower end thereof is adjacent pinch rollers230 (in FIG. 23A) contained in the sheet feeder. A button 99 (in FIGS.21 and 23) releases rollers 230 to permit a stack of paper 235 to beinserted thereunder. After paper is inserted the roller is urged intothe configuration of FIG. 23A. It should be noted that a motor (notvisible) contained in printer 10 drives a gear 232 (in FIG. 23B) whichengages with a corresponding gear 234 (FIG. 23B) in the sheet feederwhen the feeder and printer are oriented at 90° relative to one another.Gear 234 is connected by a conventional gear train 233 (partiallyvisible) to shaft 231 for driving roller 230. The sheet feeder motor isdriven in accordance with known techniques for advancing paper from asheet feeder, one sheet at a time, to a printer.

With the printer configured as shown in FIG. 37, automatic sheet feedingoccurs in a manner which maintains a straight paper feed path, ideal forjobs in which the paper is stiff and/or in which dense graphics or textis being printed. To configure the printer from the storage/transportconfiguration of FIGS. 3-8 to another automatic feeding mode, button 102is again slided to withdraw the tongue from housing 48 and to releasesheet feeder 12 from base 15 by unhooking the hook on the lower end oflug 104 from slot 108. The sheet feeder is then rotated 90° until tongue94 is received in slot 90. When so received sheet feeder and printer arelocked at 90° relative to one another. Thereafter, both units arepivoted about the axis of module 48 until the springs in base 15, likespring 86, engages slot 88 thereby maintaining the configuration shownin FIGS. 20, 21, 23 and 23A. Door 40 is again opened and arms 154, 156are extended. Also, wings 310, 320 are moved to the configuration shownin FIGS. 22 and 23. When printing begins, a sheet with wet ink thereonemerging from slot 30 is prevented from falling on a previously printedsheet in a manner which will be shortly described.

Finally, in a third mode, manual printing is achieved with printer 10and sheet feeder 12 connected to base 15. To move into this manualprinting configuration, button 102 is slided to withdraw the tongue fromhousing 48 thereby permitting pivotal movement of printer 10 about theaxis of the power housing module. The printer is pivoted upwardly untilit assumes the configuration of FIG. 22. At this point, springs, likespring 86 are received in slot 88 thereby holding the printer at about a45° angle relative to base 15. Tongue 94 is not received in a slot butrather bears against an exterior surface of housing 48. In thisposition, alignment guide 42 is used to align paper for feeding the sameinto slot 22 which is exposed when the printer and sheet feeder are inthe configuration of FIG. 22.

Consideration will now be given to the manner in which deflector wings310, 320 prevent a sheet emerging from a printer from immediatelylanding on the preceding sheet which may still have wet ink thereon.This feature is operable both in the manual printing mode of FIG. 22 andin the automatic sheet feeding mode illustrated in FIG. 23.

Operation

In operation, the edge deflector 330, deflector wings 310, 320, and theleft and right trap pockets 350, 360, respectively, cooperate so as toprevent a printed page from contacting a previously printed page as longas possible.

Referring now to FIG. 39, the printer apparatus is shown supported on ahorizontal surface 380, along with a stack of previously printed media370. The processing can be described in the following stages:

Stage 1--Printing and Deflecting

A sheet of printable media, such as paper or an overhead transparency,is fed into the printer by sheet feeder 12.

Referring to FIG. 40, a sheet of media to be printed is fed into theprinter in the direction indicated by arrow 342. The paper proceedsthrough the printer along a print path indicated by dashed line 344.Finally, the paper exits the printer through the paper exit slot 30indicated by arrow 346 on the output side of the printer. As indicatedin FIG. 40, the leading edge of a media first contacts the edgedeflector 330.

Referring now to FIG. 41, the edge deflector 330 deflects the leadingedge of the paper generally upward as it deflects downwardly. The paperis indicated by reference 400.

For reference, the media may be described as having a leading edge,referring to the edge of the paper first to exit the printer. The edgeof the paper last to leave the printer is called the trailing edge. Thepaper also includes lateral edges, which may be referred to as left andright edges, again defined viewing the printer from the output side.

Stage 2--Printing and Deflecting

Referring now to FIG. 42, as the media 400 travels further out of thepaper exit slot, the leading edge next contacts the left and rightdeflector wings 310, 320. The left deflector wing 310 is obscured inthis right side view. In general, it is arranged symmetrically withrespect to the right deflector wing as further explained below.

As media 400 moves further along, the deflector wings deflect thelateral edges of the media upward, thereby imparting a laterallybowed-shape to the media. This serves to stiffen the media so that, evenas the leading edge moves well beyond the deflector wings, the stiffenedpaper holds itself up off the output platform 300.

Stage 3--Stiffening

Stage 3 is illustrated in FIG. 43. This shows how the bow-shape impartsrigidity to the media, so that it supports itself over the base, evenafter a majority of the sheet has exited the printer, as long as thetrailing edge is still inside the paper exit slot, where it ispositioned by output rollers.

Stage 4--Controlled Drop

After completion of printer, when the media trailing edge exits theprinter, the transversed bow-shape earlier formed is released. As aresult, the media loses its rigidity and consequently, the leading edgeof the media drops, as illustrated in FIG. 44.

Also at this point in the process, the trailing edge comers of the mediapop up into the corresponding trap pockets 350, 360 in the pen accessdoor. This prevents the media from being sucked back into the mechanismas the output rollers reverse to pick up the next page, hereinafterreferred to as the following page. The comer portions of the media fitinto the trap pockets as shown in the enlarged view of the right trappocket of FIG. 46.

Stage 5--Trap Pockets and Trailing Edge Formation

The wet paper path system imparts a W-shaped transverse bow along thetrailing edge of the current page, as illustrated in perspective view inFIG. 45.

Referring to FIG. 45, the lateral edges of the media 400, in thevicinity of the trailing edge, are deflected upward by the deflectorwings 310, 320. However, the respective comers of the media are confinedby the corresponding trap pocket 350, 360, thereby imparting a downwardbow toward the center in the trailing edge of the media. However, acentral region near the trailing edge of the media is now supported bythe edge separator 330, so that the trailing edge acquires a W-shape.

Since the current media 400 has now exited the printer, it is no longerdriven by the output rollers. It therefore pauses in its presentposition until such time as a following media is ejected from theprinter. The W-shaped bow in the trailing edge of the current mediaensures proper contact with the leading edge of the following sheet, sothat the following sheet will drive the current sheet further ahead.

Stage 6

As the following media emerges from the printer its leading edge engagesthe W-bow at the trailing edge of the previous page and drives theprevious page along the deflector wings as shown in FIG. 47.

Stage 7--Page Breaking

When the trailing edge of the current media clears the edge separator,the center of the trailing edge is no longer supported, although thelateral edges continue to be deflected upward by the deflector wings. Asa result, the center of the trailing edge flips down so that thetrailing edge acquires a generally U-shaped bow, as shown in FIG. 48.This restores stiffness to the page, as described previously. TheU-shape trailing edge assures continued contact with the leading edge ofthe following sheet.

Stage 8--Stacking

As the leading edge of the following sheet continues its inclined motionalong the deflector wings, it pushes the current sheet off of the wingsand allows it to drop onto the output platform. As successive sheets areprinted and output in the manner described, they stack neatly onto oneanother in proper order, as shown in FIG. 49.

The foregoing methods and apparatus have the following advantages. Theprinted media is maintained spaced above a previously printed sheetwhile the current sheet is being printed. Only when the trailing edgeexits the printer does the leading edge fall onto the previous sheet.Since the leading edge falls on an area of the previous page distal fromthe exit slot, that region has had a maximum amount of time to dry sinceit was printed. Once the leading edge falls onto the stack, the printedpage remains in that position, with the trailing portion of the pagesupported above the output stack, until the following page is printedand ejected from the printer. As the following page exits the printerslots, it drives the previous page off of the deflector wings, allowingit to finally fall into place onto the stack. This has the advantage ofmaximizing the time delay before the printed page impacts the wettestportion of the stack, and provides for neat stacking of output media,all in a completely passive apparatus.

The Deflector Wings

FIG. 31 shows detail of the deflector wings 310, 320. The deflector wingitself is shown in side elevation in FIG. 31C. The right wing 320, forexample, includes an elongate portion 312 fixed to a base portion 314.The deflector wing preferably is formed of a plastic material forlightweight and economical construction. The base portion 314 includes apair of mounting pins 316 for snapin connection to correspondingmounting holes on the output platform 300 or on a slider, in the case ofthe left deflector wing, described below.

The left deflector wing is illustrated in FIGS. 31A and 31B. The leftdeflector wing further includes a slider portion 318. The slider 318 ismovably connected to a corresponding channel in the output platform 300so as to permit lateral positioning of the left deflector wing in orderto accommodate printed media of various widths. The slider 318 isconnected to the output platform by means of a suitable snap-in hook322.

As described above, the printing system may be configured into a travelmode in which the output platform 300 and the output side of the printer10 are closed into parallel proximity with each other. For that reason,the deflector wings, as well as the edge separator, are pivotallyconnected to the output platform and arranged to fold down into a travelposition, substantially flush with the output platform. For that reason,the deflector wings include torsion springs arranged to urge thedeflector wings upward toward an operational position for use, whileallowing them to pivot down into the travel position automatically. Asuitable stop is provided so that the deflector wings as well as theedge separator automatically spring upward into a predetermined positionfor use when the printer is configured in the automatic feed mode.

We claim:
 1. A method for configuring a printer having a battery and acase comprising the steps of:placing the printer in a configurationmode; providing a menu affixed to said case on the printer whichincludes a plurality of configurable printer features, and a pluralityof different configuration options associated with each featureincluding a left-most and a right-most configuration option, the menufurther including a battery charge indicator having a plurality ofcharge level indicators thereon, all of said printer features,configuration options and level indicators being displayed on a linearpath across said menu; providing a pointer on a printer carriage mountedon the printer, said pointer being oriented to point at said linear pathwhen the printer carriage moves relative to the menu; detecting thebattery charge level; generating a signal proportional to the batterycharge level; moving the printer carriage responsive to the batterycharge level signal until the pointer points to the batter chargeindicator level corresponding to the battery charge level; moving theprinter carriage until the pointer points at a selected configurationoption associated with one of the printer features; and selecting theconfiguration option at which the pointer points.
 2. The method of claim1 wherein said method further includes the steps of:moving the printercarriage until the pointer points at a configuration option associatedwith the next adjacent printer feature; moving the printer carriageuntil the pointer points at a selected configuration option associatedwith the adjacent printer feature; and selecting the configurationoption at which the pointer points.
 3. An apparatus for configuring aprinter having a battery, a case and a printer carriage movable relativeto said case, said apparatus comprising:a menu mounted on said case,said menu displaying a plurality of configurable printer features and aplurality of different configuration options associated with eachfeature, including a left-most and a right-most configuration option,the menu further including a battery charge indicator having a pluralityof charge level indication thereon, all of said printer features,configuration options, and level indicators being displayed on a linearpath across said menu; a pointer mounted on said printer carriage, saidpointer being oriented to point at said linear path when the printercarriage moves relative to the menu; means for placing the printer in aconfiguration mode; means for detecting the battery charge level; meansfor generating a signal porportional to the battery charge level; meansfor moving the printer carriage responsive to the battery charge levelsignal until the pointer points to the battery charge indicator levelcorresponding to the battery charge level; means for moving the printercarriage until the pointer points at a selected configuration optionassociated with one of the printer features; and means for selecting theconfiguration option at which the pointer points.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein said apparatus further includes means for moving theprinter carriage until the pointer points at a configuration optionassociated with a selected one of the printer features on the menu.
 5. Amethod for configuring a printer comprising the steps of:placing theprinter in a configuration mode; providing a menu affixed to a case onthe printer which includes a plurality of configurable printer featuresand a plurality of different configuration options associated with eachfeature, all of said printer features and configuration options beingdisplayed on a linear path across said means; providing a pointer on aprinter carriage mounted on the printer, said pointer being oriented topoint at each configuration option on the menu when the printer carriagemoves relative to the menu; moving the printer carriage until thepointer points at a selected configuration option associated with one ofthe printer features; selecting the configuration option at which thepointer points; automatically moving the printer carriage to thecurrently selected configuration option associated with the nextadjacent printer feature responsive to a user-actuated signal providedto said printer; and maintaining the printer carriage at the currentlyselected configuration option to indicate to the user the currentlyselected configuration option associated with the next adjacent printerfeature.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said method further includesthe step of moving the printer carriage between the configurationoptions associated with the feature at which the pointer points untilthe pointer points to a desired configuration option, the carriagemoving from left to right responsive to a second user-actuated signalwherein the carriage moves from the right-most option to the left-mostoption responsive to the second user-actuated signal when the pointerpoints to the right-most option and the carriage moving right to leftresponsive to a third user-actuated signal input wherein the carriagemoves from the left-most option to the right-most option responsive tothe third user-actuated signal when the pointer points to the left-mostoption.
 7. An apparatus for configuring a printer which has an exteriorcase and a printer carriage movable relative to said case, saidapparatus comprising:a menu mounted on said case, said menu displaying aplurality of configurable printer features and a plurality of differentconfiguration options associated with each feature, all of said printerfeatures and configuration options being displayed on a linear pathacross said menu; a pointer mounted on said printer carriage, saidpointer being oriented to point at each configuration option on the menuwhen the printer carriage moves relative to the menu; means for placingthe printer is a configuration mode; means for moving the printercarriage until the pointer points at a selected configuration optionassociated with one of the printer features; means for selecting theconfiguration option at which the pointer points; means forautomatically moving the printer carriage to the currently selectedconfiguration option associated with the next adjacent printer feature;and means for maintaining the printer carriage of the currently selectedconfiguration option to indicate to the user the current selectedconfiguration option associated with the next adjacent printer feature.8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said apparatus further includingmeans for moving the printer carriage between the configuration optionsassociated with the feature at which the pointer points until thepointer points to a desired configuration option, the carriage movingfrom left to right responsive to a second user-actuated signal whereinthe carriage moves from the right-most option to the left-most optionresponsive to the second user-actuated signal when the pointer points tothe right-most option and the carriage moving right to left responsiveto a third user-actuated signal input wherein the carriage moves fromthe left-most option to the right-most option responsive to the thirduser-actuated signal when the pointer points to the left-most option.